Mark Twain: "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" p. 73
1. "We shot a water-fowl now and then that got up too early in the morning or didn't go to bed early enough in the evening. Take it all round, we lived pretty high."
It seems here that Huck and Jim seem fairly happy in the situation that they are in. Though they are both on the lamb and cannot even go out during the day without a disguise (like Huck dressing up as a girl), they can often enjoy the little things in life like a good supper of water-fowl or catfish. It even seems ironic that they are so chipper in the condition that they are in (hiding from everyone).
Mark Twain: "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" p. 83
2. "'I didn' know dey was so many un um. I hain't hearn 'bout none un um, skasely, but ole King Sollermun, onless you counts dem kings dat's in a pack er k'yards.'"
Jim says this after Huck reads to him about "kings and dukes and earls and such." I found it interesting that he hadn't heard of other kings other than King Solomon. Solomon was known for making wise decisions, one of which was deciding which woman was the mother of a child, of whom both claimed was theirs. Jim seems to make some wise decisions so it seems that he and Solomon are alike in that aspect. It would seem likely, though, since he is an uneducated black man, that he would know more kings in a pack of cards than there actually are in the world.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Quotation Response 10/15
Mark Twain: "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" p. 18
1. "Jim was monstrous proud about it, and he got so he wouldn't hardly notice the other niggers. Niggers would come miles to hear jim tell about it, and he was more looked up to than any nigger in that country."
This exerpt refers to "Nigger Jim," who was watching the kitchen at the widow's house when Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn were creeping by, attempting to sneak Huck off the premise. He tripped on a root though, startling Jim. He knew he heard something so he attempted to listen for the hooligans. They stayed quiet, though, but eventually Jim came from the doorway and leaned up against a tree to listen more closely. He fell asleep. Tom suggested that they tie him to the tree, but Huck opted not to. Instead, they meerly took his hat and hung it on a branch. When Jim awoke he fabricated a story that witches took him around the world and brought him back to the tree and hung his hat up. I found this quote interesting because the "n-word" is used so loosely in the book. Today, it is considered derogatory, however in the context it is not.
Mark Twain: "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" p. 20
2. "We'll keep them till they're ransomed to death..."
I think this is rather ironic. This is a group of young boys, one of whom cries, who are planning on killing, stealing from, and "ransoming" people. Other than the fact that they are young and planning on killing people, this is ironic because they do not know the first thing about robbing someone or holding someone for randsome. Tom Sawyer tells the others that they will read books to find out how to do these things. I was tickled by this because these boys don't seem to be the type that would read or attempt to learn.
1. "Jim was monstrous proud about it, and he got so he wouldn't hardly notice the other niggers. Niggers would come miles to hear jim tell about it, and he was more looked up to than any nigger in that country."
This exerpt refers to "Nigger Jim," who was watching the kitchen at the widow's house when Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn were creeping by, attempting to sneak Huck off the premise. He tripped on a root though, startling Jim. He knew he heard something so he attempted to listen for the hooligans. They stayed quiet, though, but eventually Jim came from the doorway and leaned up against a tree to listen more closely. He fell asleep. Tom suggested that they tie him to the tree, but Huck opted not to. Instead, they meerly took his hat and hung it on a branch. When Jim awoke he fabricated a story that witches took him around the world and brought him back to the tree and hung his hat up. I found this quote interesting because the "n-word" is used so loosely in the book. Today, it is considered derogatory, however in the context it is not.
Mark Twain: "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" p. 20
2. "We'll keep them till they're ransomed to death..."
I think this is rather ironic. This is a group of young boys, one of whom cries, who are planning on killing, stealing from, and "ransoming" people. Other than the fact that they are young and planning on killing people, this is ironic because they do not know the first thing about robbing someone or holding someone for randsome. Tom Sawyer tells the others that they will read books to find out how to do these things. I was tickled by this because these boys don't seem to be the type that would read or attempt to learn.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Reading Response: 10.8.07
-- Would you label Dickinson as Transcendental? Why or why not?
I would label Dickinson as Transcendental because her works contain many references to nature, which is "the perfect manisfestation of [the] Truth." In this passage, labeled "Day 1," Emily Dickinson also writes about religion, showing she has her own philosophy on the topic. "I never spoke with God, Nor visited in heaven; Yet certain am I of the spot As if the chart were given." I think Dickinson is also a transcendentalist because of her views of life, shown in "XX" in "Day 1" (p. 86).
I would label Dickinson as Transcendental because her works contain many references to nature, which is "the perfect manisfestation of [the] Truth." In this passage, labeled "Day 1," Emily Dickinson also writes about religion, showing she has her own philosophy on the topic. "I never spoke with God, Nor visited in heaven; Yet certain am I of the spot As if the chart were given." I think Dickinson is also a transcendentalist because of her views of life, shown in "XX" in "Day 1" (p. 86).
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Quotation Response 10/7
Walt Whitman: "Song of Myself" p. 83
1. "I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love, If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles."
To bequeath is to "dispose by last will." He explains here that once he dies, he will become part of the earth and grow from "the grass that [he] love[s]." His soul can simply be found beneath your feet. It is not bizarre that Whitman would say this. Passage 51 of "Song of Myself" is filled with references to nature. In the first sentences, he compares himself to a brilliant hawk, a beautiful part of nature. It seems that after his comparison, it would be fitting that Whitman would want to be part of the earth when he dies.
Walt Whitman: "Song of Myself" p. 83
2. "And such as it is to be of these more or less I am, And of these one and all I weave the song of myself."
Walt Whitman is describing how the populance and masses are part of him. In another section, he says, "I am large, I contain multitudes." Passage 15 of "Song of Myself" is like "I Hear America Singing" in that there are many different types of people and what they do. They all are part of Whitman because he is part of the populance and they are his representation.
1. "I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love, If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles."
To bequeath is to "dispose by last will." He explains here that once he dies, he will become part of the earth and grow from "the grass that [he] love[s]." His soul can simply be found beneath your feet. It is not bizarre that Whitman would say this. Passage 51 of "Song of Myself" is filled with references to nature. In the first sentences, he compares himself to a brilliant hawk, a beautiful part of nature. It seems that after his comparison, it would be fitting that Whitman would want to be part of the earth when he dies.
Walt Whitman: "Song of Myself" p. 83
2. "And such as it is to be of these more or less I am, And of these one and all I weave the song of myself."
Walt Whitman is describing how the populance and masses are part of him. In another section, he says, "I am large, I contain multitudes." Passage 15 of "Song of Myself" is like "I Hear America Singing" in that there are many different types of people and what they do. They all are part of Whitman because he is part of the populance and they are his representation.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Quotation Response 10/3
Nathaniel Hawthorne: "The Minister's Black Veil" p. 58
1. "Beloved and respected as you are, there may be whispers that you hide your face under the consciousness of secret sin. For the sake of your holy office, do away this scandal!"
Elizabeth, Hooper's wife-to-be, says this. From Hooper's first sermon to the wedding of the couple, the parish has been gossiping about the veil. The people deemed that the reason for the veil may be from shame (or "consciousness) from some secret sin. Elizabeth begs of Hooper to remove the veil if he hopes to keep his job as a spiritual leader.
Nathaniel Hawthorne: "The Minister's Black Veil" p. 58
2. "If I hide my face for sorrow, there is cause enough, and if I cover it for secret sin, what mortal might not do the same?"
Mr. Hooper says that he hides his face from the world, separating it from the negative aspects of the world. In this quote, he attempts to justify his wearing of the veil. Hooper says that if he feels sorrow and that is what he is hiding his face for, that others have felt the same sorrow. If he covers his face for secret sin, others have shamed themselves with secret sin just as he has. He is simply justifying the use of the veil.
1. "Beloved and respected as you are, there may be whispers that you hide your face under the consciousness of secret sin. For the sake of your holy office, do away this scandal!"
Elizabeth, Hooper's wife-to-be, says this. From Hooper's first sermon to the wedding of the couple, the parish has been gossiping about the veil. The people deemed that the reason for the veil may be from shame (or "consciousness) from some secret sin. Elizabeth begs of Hooper to remove the veil if he hopes to keep his job as a spiritual leader.
Nathaniel Hawthorne: "The Minister's Black Veil" p. 58
2. "If I hide my face for sorrow, there is cause enough, and if I cover it for secret sin, what mortal might not do the same?"
Mr. Hooper says that he hides his face from the world, separating it from the negative aspects of the world. In this quote, he attempts to justify his wearing of the veil. Hooper says that if he feels sorrow and that is what he is hiding his face for, that others have felt the same sorrow. If he covers his face for secret sin, others have shamed themselves with secret sin just as he has. He is simply justifying the use of the veil.
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